7 comments:

To accept someone isn't as easy as it sound; and to let them into your family can prove even harder.

George has classed Lennie as a cousin and if we were to obsever family trees we would see that cousin may as well be named 'second bothers' (As a step father isn't blood related but we may still call them step-fathers. Cousinf do have blood relations). Thus pushing us to affirm that George think of Lennie as his brother - his hypothetical blood brother at that.

We can get a good sense of the hardship of a brother from the play 'Blood Brothers' by Willy Russel, where at a point the two main characters make a blood-bonded pact to 'always defend' one another 'and stand by' each other; no matter what.

George is aware of what it will take to be a brother to a guy like Lennie - as Lennie can be quite demanding at times - and still he accepts all responsibilities before their employer. Perhaps he knew full well that any wrong doing and he would be held responsible but it seems that, that had been a decision made many moons ago.

George is protective over Lennie, and it's almost as though he knows it is inevitable Lennie will get into trouble again, and he will have to protect him. This quotation also gives us an insight into how special their friendship is-something no other characters seem to have in the novella- as he is prepared to lie for Lennie and get him out of trouble. Moreover, it illustrates how George is the more rational, as whilst Lennie is focused on their dream of living ''on the fatta the lan'' and petting things, George has to think about the more serious things. This could link into the theme of loneliness, as although George and Lennie have a special friendship-which other characters in the novel might envy- it seems that George is often alone in his troubles as he cannot confide in Lennie due to his simplicity.

George, in a way, puts further emphasis on the drudgery he and Lennie are trapped in; 'they don't belong no place' tells me that George thinks it is only inevitable they will be leaving the ranch soon enough, to perform menial labour on the next one, because as the pair of bindlestiffs they are, it is the sad truth. The way George includes Lennie in this however, implies George finds solace in Lennie's company; sure, they may be a pair of bindlestiffs that 'don't belong no place', but they are a pair of bindlestiffs in it together; George needs Lennie to help get him through the already self-conviced rigour of their situation; it seems to me that George is already set on his fate, at least in this phrase, which I think shows he is a very pessimistic man, not adjusting his aspirations or hopes (until later on in the book, when the 'dream' is within arms' reach,). We can either assume he is a deeply dejected man, or a world-weary one.

George uses his words carefully but accurately. This is the time he's attempting to find work; so lieing shows he is hugely desperate in finding it. George is smart, so he will try everything in his power to get work both he and Lennie.

Moreover, this could show George has Lennie under his authority, speaking for him mainly so Lennie does not mess things up for both of them.

George has to keep an out on everyone and everything and has learnt to be suspicious and distrustful to newcomers possibly because of previous experiences and the fact that he is the sole carer for Lenny who is unable to look after himself.

George is consistently cynical in the novella 'Of Mice and Men'... everything he says has a pessimistic tone to it, especially this one; George evidently feels like he doesnt "belong" anywhere. Feeling as-if you belong somewhere makes you feel content, George doesnt at any point speak in a positive tone... this denotes his unhappiness. The question that should be asked however is whther or not George 'wants' to belong somewhere. He is pretty much an autonomous character. Lennie on the other hand is the complete opposite.

George has nothing more too say accept he is related to Lennie, maybe he reveals this to aviod the fact he would ever be friends or asociate with Lennie if he was not in some way related to him. Also it shows another intelligent side to George by the fact he knows he must speak before Lennie does. The three dots reveal, George is being hesitant and there is a falter in his speech, this shows he is thinking on what to say or even what not to say. This could also be considered as a false start.